Food delivery apparatus with stackable shelf system

ABSTRACT

A food item delivery apparatus is disclosed, that includes a delivery container, as well as one or more removable shelves stackable within the delivery container, such that each of the one or more removable shelves is configured to be inserted and removed from the delivery container using a finger-gripping mechanism. The one or more removable shelves are configured to be inserted and removed from the delivery container while the food item is resting thereon. At least one shelf is supported by one or more variable-sized support members attached thereto, the one or more support members being perpendicular to a top surface of the shelf, and resting on a bottom of the delivery container or a top surface of another shelf directly underneath the shelf. The delivery container and the shelves may be coated with insulating material to promote heat circulation and to avoid sticking.

FIELD

This relates generally to food delivery container, and in particular, toa food delivery apparatus and one or more stackable shelves that can beeasily inserted or removed from the food delivery apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, when multiple food items (e.g., baked goods, such ascookies) are to be delivered together within a box, the food items arelayered on top of each other, in order to maximize storage space in thebox. This can result in crushing or otherwise damaging the food items atthe bottom of the box, as well as the layers of food items stickingtogether.

It is conventional to use a separating material, like parchment paper ormetal foil, placed between layers of the food items to keep the fooditems from sticking together; however, a thin piece of paper or foildoes not protect the bottom layers of food items from being crushed bythe weight of the box's contents.

Therefore, there is a need for a food delivery apparatus or containerconfigured to store a maximum amount of food items for delivery, whilepromoting heat circulation and without crushing or otherwise damagingthe food items.

SUMMARY

The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to solving issuesrelating to one or more of the problems presented in the art, as well asproviding additional features that will become readily apparent byreference to the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a food itemdelivery apparatus. The food item delivery apparatus includes a deliverycontainer; and one or more removable shelves stackable within thedelivery container, such that each of the one or more removable shelvesis configured to be inserted and removed from the delivery containerusing a finger-gripping mechanism. According to certain embodiments, theone or more removable shelves are configured to be inserted and removedfrom the delivery container while the food item is resting thereon.According to certain embodiments, at least one shelf is supported by oneor more support members attached thereto, the one or more supportmembers being perpendicular to a top surface of the shelf, and restingon a bottom of the delivery container or a top surface of another shelfdirectly underneath the shelf.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a fooddelivery container. The delivery container includes a bottom; a top; aplurality of side walls; and one or more removable shelves, having asubstantially similar shape to the food delivery container, stackablewithin the food delivery container, such that each of the one or moreremovable shelves is configured to be inserted and removed from the fooddelivery container using a finger-gripping mechanism. According tocertain embodiments, the one or more removable shelves are configured tobe inserted and removed from the delivery container while a food item isresting thereon, and at least one shelf is supported by one or moresupport members attached thereto, the one or more support members beingperpendicular to a top surface of the shelf, and resting on the bottomof the delivery container or a top surface of another shelf directlyunderneath the shelf.

Yet another embodiment is directed to a stackable shelf for use within afood item delivery container, such that the stackable shelf isconfigured to be inserted and removed from the food item deliverycontainer. The stackable shelf may include one or more perforatedsections forming one or more finger-gripping mechanisms, respectively,when removed; and one or more support members attached to the stackableshelf, the one or more support members being perpendicular to a topsurface of the stackable shelf, and resting on a bottom of the food itemdelivery container or a top surface of another stackable shelf directlyunderneath the stackable shelf.

According to various embodiments, the one or more support members areformed by folding a perforated portion of the stackable shelf byapproximately 90 degrees, and each of the one or more support membersare variable in size, by including multiple perforated portions for eachof the one or more support members.

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well asthe structure and operation of various embodiments of the presentdisclosure, are described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingfigures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. These drawingsare provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosureand should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, orapplicability of the disclosure. It should be noted that for clarity andease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a food item delivery system, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2( a) is a top view of a shelf with perforations for formingsupport mechanisms and finger-gripping mechanisms, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2( b) is a top-view of a shelf after forming support mechanisms andfinger-gripping mechanisms, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinaryskill in the art to make and use the invention. Descriptions of specificdevices, techniques, and applications are provided only as examples.Various modifications to the examples described herein will be readilyapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to other examples andapplications without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited tothe examples described herein and shown, but is to be accorded the scopeconsistent with the claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example orillustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs.

Reference will now be made in detail to aspects of the subjecttechnology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary food item delivery apparatus, accordingto various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows a fooditem delivery container (hereinafter referred to as a “box” forexemplary purposes) 100, which can be any conventional containerintended for storage and/or delivery of food (e.g., baked goods orpizza). Box 100 as shown in FIG. 1 is substantially rectangular, withfour sidewalls 102. It should be noted that box 100 can include anynumber of sidewalls 102, and can be any shape or size suitable forstorage and delivery of any particular food item. Box 100 can furtherinclude a lid or top cover 103, which may be foldably attached to one ormore sidewalls 102 or completely removable from the box 100. Food items(not shown) can be placed in box 100, such that the bottom layer of thefood items are directly on the bottom 101 of the box 100.

Box 100 may be formed of one piece of foldable material, such aspaperboard or cardboard; however, any material may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. Part or all of theinsides of top 103, bottom 101 and/or sidewalls 102 can be lined with aninsulating material (e.g., aluminum foil, or the like), in order to trapheat, thereby substantially maintaining the temperature of a freshlybaked food item, for example.

As shown in FIG. 1, any number of stackable shelves (or trays) 120 canbe placed inside the box 100. For exemplary purposes, FIG. 1 illustrates4 shelves 120. Each shelf 120 can include one or more vertical supportmembers 140, which provide clearance below the top surface of each shelf120. This allows food items (e.g., cookies or pizza) to sit on top ofand below each shelf 120, without crushing the bottom food item(s) orcausing the food item(s) to stick together. Support member 140 can be ofany size (or variable in size, as described below with respect to FIG.2( a)), depending on the thickness of the food item that is to sit belowthe particular shelf 120.

Each shelf 120 can have one or more finger-gripping mechanisms 130,which may be, for example, in the form of a round or semicircle hole cutout of the top surface of shelf 120. In the example shown in FIG. 1,finger-gripping mechanisms 130 are semicircles cut out of two sides ofeach shelf 120. This allows a user to easily load each shelf 120 intothe box 100, while maximizing the surface area space of each shelf 120within the box 100. Further, a consumer of the food items can easilyremove each shelf 120 (with or without the food items still sittingthereon) to access the food items below the shelf 120. As anotherexemplary advantage, when a shelf 120 is removed with the food item(s)thereon, the shelf 120 can be utilized as a serving tray, without theneed to transfer the food item(s) to another serving piece.

Any number, size or location of finger-gripping mechanisms 130 can beincluded. For example, only one circular finger gripping mechanism 130can be included in the center of a shelf 120, allowing a user to insertor remove the shelf 120 by hooking a finger into the finger-grippingmechanism 130 and lifting and/or lowering the shelf 120 in or out of thebox 100. Additionally, one or more of the shelves 120 can be partiallyor completely lined with an insulating material, such as aluminum foiland/or parchment paper, to trap heat and/or prevent sticking. Accordingto one embodiment, only the bottom of each shelf 120 is lined with aninsulating material to trap the rising heat from the food item beneath.

FIG. 2( a) is a top view of a shelf 120 with perforations for formingsupport members 140 and finger-gripping mechanisms 130, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2( a), each shelf120 may be previously perforated so that support members 140 can beformed by folding along the perforation by approximately 90 degrees. Theperforations are shown by dotted lines 210. According to one embodiment,multiple perforations 210 can be included, such that a user candetermine how large each support mechanism 140 should be. In thedepicted example, two perforated lines are provided for each supportmechanism 140 as size options, but any number may be included. Forexample, each shelf 120 can have a different height, depending on whichfood item rests beneath it.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the support members 140 are foldeddownward, thereby contacting the bottom 101 of the box 100 or the top220 of a lower shelf 120; however, the support members 140 canalternatively be folded upward, thereby contacting the bottom of theshelf 120 above.

Similarly, finger-gripping mechanisms 130 can be formed by punching outpreviously perforated sections shown by dotted lines 200. As notedabove, any number, size or location of finger-gripping mechanisms 130can be used. In the depicted example, finger-gripping mechanisms 130 areplaced in a semicircle shape on two sides of the shelf 120, as well asan option for a center hole finger-gripping mechanism 130. As analternative, the shelves 120 can be prefabricated to includefinger-gripping mechanisms 130 already formed.

FIG. 2( b) is a top-view of a shelf 120 after forming support members140 and finger-gripping mechanisms 130, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. In this example, the side semicirclefinger-gripping mechanisms 130 were chosen and formed by punching outpart of the top surface of the shelf 120 along the perforations. Afterfolding along perforations 210 to form support members 140, only topsurface 220 is visible from the top-view.

Using a delivery food apparatus, such as box 100, configured to hold oneor more shelves 120, a maximum amount of food items for delivery can bestored in box 100, while allowing heat circulation and without crushingor otherwise damaging the food items. Moreover, using finger-grippingmechanisms 130, one can easily insert or remove shelves 120 from the box100, without compromising the structural integrity of the box 100, yetmaintaining a maximum surface area of each shelf 120. In addition, auser or a consumer can insert and/or remove a shelf 120 with the fooditem(s) pre-loaded on the shelf without damaging the food item(s). Asyet another advantage, by providing multiple perforations 210 forforming support member 140, a user can determine how tall a shelf 120should be, based on the thickness of the food item(s) stored below inorder to assure that the food item(s) stored below are not crushed.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notby way of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict anexample architectural or other configuration for the disclosure, whichis done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that canbe included in the disclosure. The disclosure is not restricted to theillustrated example architectures or configurations, but can beimplemented using a variety of alternative architectures andconfigurations. Additionally, although the disclosure is described abovein terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it shouldbe understood that the various features and functionality described inone or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in theirapplicability to the particular embodiment with which they aredescribed. They instead can be applied alone or in some combination, toone or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or notsuch embodiments are described, and whether or not such features arepresented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadthand scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectivessuch as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known”,and terms of similar meaning, should not be construed as limiting theitem described to a given time period, or to an item available as of agiven time. But instead these terms should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable, known now, or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group ofitems linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiringthat each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, butrather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise.Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should notbe read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rathershould also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise.Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the disclosuremay be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplatedto be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular isexplicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as“one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to”, or other like phrasesin some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case isintended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may beabsent.

1. A food item delivery apparatus, comprising: a delivery container; andone or more removable shelves stackable within the delivery container,such that each of the one or more removable shelves is configured to beinserted and removed from the delivery container using a finger-grippingmechanism, wherein the one or more removable shelves are configured tobe inserted and removed from the delivery container while the food itemis resting thereon, and at least one shelf is supported by one or moresupport members attached thereto, the one or more support members beingperpendicular to a top surface of the shelf, and resting on a bottom ofthe delivery container or a top surface of another shelf directlyunderneath the shelf.
 2. The food item delivery apparatus of claim 1,wherein each of the one or more shelves is coated with an insulatingmaterial.
 3. The food item delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein thedelivery container includes a cover, the bottom of which is coated withan insulating material.
 4. The food item delivery apparatus of claim 1,wherein a height of each of the one or more shelves is predeterminedsuch that a food item beneath each of the one or more shelves is nottouched by a shelf above the food item.
 5. The food item deliveryapparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the container and at leastone of the one or more shelves is formed from either paperboard orcardboard.
 6. The food item delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the one or more removable shelves can be used as a servingtray after being removed from the delivery container.
 7. The food itemdelivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the finger-gripping mechanism isformed by removing a perforated section of at least one of the one ormore shelves.
 8. The food item delivery apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe one or more support mechanisms are formed by folding a perforatedportion of at least one of the one or more shelves, by approximately 90degrees.
 9. The food item delivery apparatus of claim 8, wherein each ofthe one or more support members are variable in size, by includingmultiple perforated portions for each of the one or more supportmembers.
 10. A food delivery container, comprising: a bottom; a top; aplurality of side walls; and one or more removable shelves, having asubstantially similar shape to the food delivery container, stackablewithin the food delivery container, such that each of the one or moreremovable shelves is configured to be inserted and removed from the fooddelivery container using a finger-gripping mechanism, wherein the one ormore removable shelves are configured to be inserted and removed fromthe delivery container while a food item is resting thereon, and atleast one shelf is supported by one or more support members attachedthereto, the one or more support members being perpendicular to a topsurface of the shelf, and resting on the bottom of the deliverycontainer or a top surface of another shelf directly underneath theshelf.
 11. The food delivery container of claim 10, wherein each of theone or more shelves is coated with an insulating material.
 12. The fooddelivery container of claim 10, wherein a bottom surface of the top iscoated with an insulating material.
 13. The food delivery container ofclaim 10, wherein a height of each of the one or more shelves ispredetermined such that a food item beneath each of the one or moreshelves is not touched by a shelf above the food item.
 14. The fooddelivery container of claim 10, wherein at least one of the fooddelivery container and at least one of the one or more shelves is formedfrom either paperboard or cardboard.
 15. The food delivery container ofclaim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more removable shelves canbe used as a serving tray after being removed from the food deliverycontainer.
 16. The food delivery container of claim 10, wherein thefinger-gripping mechanism is formed by removing a perforated section ofat least one of the one or more shelves.
 17. The food delivery containerof claim 10, wherein the one or more support members are formed byfolding a perforated portion of at least one of the one or more shelves,by approximately 90 degrees.
 18. The food delivery container of claim17, wherein each of the one or more support members are variable insize, by including multiple perforated portions for each of the one ormore support members.
 19. A stackable shelf for use within a food itemdelivery container, such that the stackable shelf is configured to beinserted and removed from the food item delivery container, comprising:one or more perforated sections forming one or more finger-grippingmechanisms, respectively, when removed; and one or more support membersattached to the stackable shelf, the one or more support members beingperpendicular to a top surface of the stackable shelf, and resting on abottom of the food item delivery container or a top surface of anotherstackable shelf directly underneath the stackable shelf.
 20. Thestackable shelf of claim 19, wherein the one or more support members areformed by folding a perforated portion of the stackable shelf byapproximately 90 degrees, and each of the one or more support membersare variable in size, by including multiple perforated portions for eachof the one or more support members.